The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-07
A STRANGE CASE.
The Attending Physicians Puzzled.

Mr.. W. 0. Jones, who resides on Forest
Avenue, Deering, of the firm OF Jones &
Hutchings, machinists, Fore street, relates
the following concerning the strange sick
ness and apparent death of his wife Nellie.
"Mrs. Jones has been an invalid for num-
Der of years, under the treatment of DR..
Charles w. Foster of Woodford's. Early in
December she was taken with an attack of
vomiting accompanied by severe pain
throughout the system. The doctor used va
rious means to relieve her distress, but with
little success. Her sickness continued to in
crease, and on Saturday afternoon, at 3
o'clock, she sank away and seemed to be dy-
ing, and was so considered by the doctor
Her complexion changed to blush drab
color, and her face became covered with a
moth like that on person having been dead
for some time. There was an offensive odor
emanating from the body, such as issues
from the tomb. 1t was necessary for persons
entering the room to use disinfectants
The doctor called up Mr.. Jones at 1O. 80
o'clock Sunday night. and informed him that
Mrs. Jones would probably be dead in less
than an hour, as the action of her heart was
very slow and the pulse had risen to 100, and
was growing weaker. Mrs. Jones had qiyen
full directions concerning her funeral. and
had disposed of her effects in the early part
of her sickness. She particularly requested
in case she should become unconscious. that
her body might rest long time in the bed,
and her lips be frequently wet, until her
friends were perfectly certain that she was
dead, as she had great horror of being bur
led alive.
AT 8 O'Clock Tuesday morning, Mrs Millie
Bennett, near neighbor, was at the bedside
of the unconscious woman, wetting her lips
She heard a choking sound, as if the patient
was trying to swallow. She placed her hand
on Mrs Jones' forehead and felt twitching
of the nerves. About that time Mr.. Jones
arose to replenish the fire, and he also heard
sound like that of a child cooling. During
the conversation between Mr.. Jones and
Mrs. Bennett, the patient gave loud groan.
so loud as to be heard in other parts of the
house. 1t was impossible to open her mouth
to administer stimulants, but hot applica-
lions and an Increased temperature of the
room were made use of to revive the patient.
Mr.. Weeks, the milkman, was despatched
for the doctor, who came quickly and was
told the circumstances. He took her hand
and requested her to close her eyes if she de-
sired stimulants With apparently much eff
fort she partially closed them. At o'clock
she was able to close and open her eyes when
asked so to do. AT IL O'Clock she was able
to converse with her husband. The doctor
uid not regard this as an encouraging sign Of
recovery but on the contrary, only slight
revival to Consciousness preceding death.
she continued to improve until 8 p m. Tues
day, then gradually sank away, calling for
air, saying she was dying, and was so re-
garded by, those who stood about the bed.
The same treatment was resorted to as be-
fore, with good results, and she has been
gradually improving ever since. She is
very much emaciated and weak 1t Is now
more than three weeks since she was strick-
en- down. She has taken very little, if any
nourishment for thirteen days, and was in
an unconscious state from Saturday at D.
m, until Tuesday at a. m. Rev. Mr.. Shnn
has conversed with her, and is very much
| interested in the case What she expert
enced while in her apparently unconscious
state she has made known to some of her
| friends.